Welcome to all new international students!

From Monday, August 7th to Thursday, September 7th, make the most of your time and let us help you get through streamlined customs procedures for a memorable arrival! Our team can’t wait to welcome and guide you upon your arrival!

Affordable costs

Tuitions fees and the cost of living in Québec are very low.

The tuition fees of international students are among the lowest in North America. For an equivalent university education, it generally costs less to study in Québec than elsewhere in North America.

The cost of living in Québec is relatively low. Housing, food and healthcare costs are lower in Québec than in many developed countries.

Bilingualism

Take advantage of your stay in Québec to learn or perfect your French. Québec is home to numerous language schools to help you reach your goal.

Québec’s educational institutions offer programs in English and French. A large proportion of Québec’s population is bilingual (French and English), especially in Montréal.

Stimulating student life

You’ll enjoy the opportunity to live in a stimulating, exciting, picturesque, and welcoming environment.

Whether you prefer wide open spaces, or the cultural and culinary attractions of a large, multicultural city like Montréal, there’s so much for students to discover in the beautiful province of Québec!

Learning French

Studying in Québec is also an opportunity to live and study in French

To facilitate the integration of international students, the Government of Québec offers a wide range of options for learning French. It’s about more than teaching. It’s about sharing our culture.

A Francophone environment

A beacon of the French language in the Americas, Québec lets you live and study in French!

Most universities ans colleges offer French courses to students and teachers during the summer period and during reading week.

Integration of immigrants

To facilitate the integration of immigrants, the Government of Québec offers French courses.

My University Studies

University studies in Québec offer a world of possibilities

In addition to benefiting from world-renowned programs, many of which are offered in collaboration with international institutions, you will live in a healthy, stimulating environment. The steps to take for studying in Québec are also extremely simple.

STEP 2 - Admission

The best way to find out about admission requirements, processing times and application deadlines is to contact the educational institution directly.

Applications for vocational training programs must be sent directly to the vocational training centre the applicant wishes to attend.

At the college level, the application must be sent to a regional admissions service or directly to the educational institution if it is not part of a regional admissions service. Applicants wishing to be admitted to a private college must contact the college directly.

STEP 3- Obtaining a Québec Acceptance Certificate (QAC) for studies from the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Diversité et de l’Inclusion

As soon as you receive your letter of acceptance, apply to the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Diversité et de l’Inclusion for a QAC for studies, if you plan to stay in Québec for over six months.

The requirement to obtain a QAC for studies generally applies to all international students at all levels of education, although some categories of students are not required to get one. To submit an application and consult the list of exemptions, go to www.immigration-quebec.gouv.qc.ca/caq-students-exemptions.

Obtaining a QAC for studies takes about four weeks, apart from postal delays. The certificate is valid for the duration of your studies up to a maximum of 49 months.

As in the case of the QAC for Studies, obtaining a permit to study in Canada is a requirement for all study programs lasting longer than six months. Some international students need to obtain a Temporary Resident Visa to enter Canada. This document and the study permit are issued at the same time by a local Government of Canada visa office.

Please contact your local Government of Canada visa office to obtain your study permit and, if necessary, a Temporary Resident Visa. The procedure to be followed is described here: www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/study.asp.

The Ministère de l’Éducation et de l’Enseignement supérieur offers scholarships to international students with excellent academic records. To be eligible, you must be enrolled full-time in a diploma program at a Québec educational institution.

Insurance

Stay

You must possess sufficient financial resources to cover the costs of your stay, including tuition fees, transportation costs (return ticket to your country of origin), settling-in expenses for the first year and living expenses for the duration of your stay.

Financial assistance

Bursaries and scholarships

Bursaries and scholarships are available for students and researchers in all fields of study or research who wish to undertake or continue their studies or research activities in Québec.

How to apply

Applications are preselected by the universities. Applicants must meet all the admission requirements of the Québec excellence bursary program for international students and must provide all the required papers as indicated on the FQRNT website.

Contact your educational institution for more information.

Other bursaries, scholarships and financial assistance

For information about other bursaries, scholarships and financial assistance, contact the educational institution of your country or the Québec institution where you wish to study. Bursaries and scholarships are generally granted to the most deserving graduate students.

Student exchanges and internships

Exchange programs

Student exchange programs allow you to complete part of your studies in a Québec educational institution (host institution) while remaining registered in an institution in your country of origin (home institution).

Check with the educational institution of your country or the Québec institution where you wish to study about exchange programs.

My College Studies

A unique system

College-level education—a particularity of the Québec system—is provided in comprehensive and technical public colleges (cégeps) and private colleges.

Cégeps are unique to Québec and are a transition between secondary school and university or the labour market.

Colleges

The college network includes:

48 public colleges (cégeps) spread throughout Québec

11 institutions under the responsibility of another government department

61 private colleges

Public colleges

Private subsidized colleges

Metropolitan Montréal regional college admission service (SRAM)

Québec City regional college admission service (SRACQ)

Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean regional college admission service (SRASL)

Choosing a program

There are two types of college programs:

Two-year pre-university programs that prepare students for university and that lead to a Diploma of College Studies (DCS)

Three-year technical programs that prepare students for the labour market and that lead to a Diploma of Vocational Studies (DVS)

Not sure which program is right for you? Consult the descriptions of pre-university and technical programs. Click on the code to find out which colleges are authorized to provide these programs.

Applying for admission

Once you have selected your college and your program, you must submit an application for admission.

Tuition fees

Insurance

Check the prerequisites for international students staying in Québec. Among other things, you must obtain health and hospitalization insurance for the duration of your stay.

Stay

You must possess sufficient financial resources to cover the costs of your stay, including tuition fees, transportation costs (return ticket to your country of origin), settling-in expenses for the first year and living expenses for the duration of your stay.

My Vocational Studies

Vocational studies in Québec offer access to some of the best training in the world.

Enjoy access to outstanding programs at Québec’s state-of-the-art vocational training centres. With their hands-on approach, you’ll acquire all the tools you need to learn the trade of your dreams!

In-demand trades

Québec offers some of the best vocational training in the world!

Quality programs

Hands-on courses

Meaningful, interesting internships

Rapid learning of a specialized trade

Very high placement rate and good working conditions

Vocational training in Quebec is:

More than 200 modern vocational training centres

At least 1740 fast-track and effective programs

21 exciting training sectors

Programs adapted to economic activity

Vocational training programs are adapted to the economies of the regions where they are offered

Developed in collaboration with employers, they are designed to meet job market needs

Required authorizations

A Study Permit from the Government of Canada (the CAQ is required to obtain this permit)

Inquire in advance about the prerequisites for staying in Québec as an international student. You will need health and hospitalization insurance for the duration of your studies.

Financial assistance

Merit scholarships

Merit scholarships are intended for international students from growth-market countries in Asia (China, India, Japan) and the Americas (Brazil and Mexico), as well as from developing countries in the French-speaking world. Students who want to study full-time in a vocational program will be given preference.

Applications from students enrolled in one of the 50 programs with favourable job outlooks will also be given preference. If you are eligible for this scholarships, you will be entitled to the supplemental tuition fee exemption.

The Québec System

Want to come to Québec to study? Here is some valuable information to achieve your dream!

Studying in Québec: 5 steps

Choose your education level

Choose your educational institution and program

File an application for admission

Obtain the required authorizations

Prepare financially

Québec’s education system

Québec’s education system is composed of the following levels:

Pre-school (kindergarten)

Primary and secondary school (general and vocational programs)

College (pre-university and technical programs)

University

School attendance is compulsory for children aged 6 to 16.

Québec has a secular language-based public education system. Courses are taught in either French or English, depending on the school. Mixed-gender (boys and girls) classes are the norm at all levels of the system.

Choosing the right level

Before taking any steps to come to Québec to study, it is important to choose the right level before applying: university, college or vocational.

If you don’t know which level is appropriate for you, you can ask the Ministère de l'Immigration, de la Diversité et de l'Inclusion (MIDI) for a comparative evaluation, which you then give to the educational institution you have chosen.